Air lift apparatus



Oct. 1, 1935. 5. A. HUMASON AIR LIFT APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l ramz/We/Q omeson y 1 Maw 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. A. HUMASON AIR LIFT APPARATUS Filed May 29,1934

Oct. 1, 1935;

1935. e. A. HUMASON AIR LIFT APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR LIFT APPARATUS Granville A. Humason, Houston, Tex.

Application May 29, 1934, Serial No. 728,139

scams. (or. 103-232) control valve employed in the eduction tube, by

means of which the gaseous pressure fluid is introduced into the tube. Valves of this general character are well known inthe art, but those in most common use are adapted to open and close through the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the tubing. Difficulty is ordinarily encountered with that type of valve, however, due to the fact that it is diflicult to keep the valves closed tightly when they are intended to be closed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a control valve which will close positively and remain closed at the proper period in the operation of the device, and to also open and stayopen when it is desired that they admit the pressure fluid at that level.

It is another object to provide a device of this character which is equipped with a check valve preventing the escape of fluid from the tubing to the exterior thereof It is another object to provide means for separating the fluid in the lower part of the casing from that in the upper portion thereof.

It is also an object to provide means for closing the lower end of the eduction tube when the tube is properly positioned in the well.

The invention also contemplates the improvement in the structure of the means for sealing the space between the tubing and the casing at the upper end of the well.

With reference to the drawings herewith Fig. 1 is a side view partly in central vertical section illustrating the equipment at the upper end of the well in accordance with my invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are central vertical sections through the casing and eduction tube equipped to carry out my invention, each figure constituting a continuation of the lower end of the preceding figure, thus illustrating the lower end of the casing and tubing.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through one of the control valves.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the plane of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a. similar section on the plane 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a similar section on the plane 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the plane Ill-l of Fig- 6.

Fig. 11 is an assembly view, partly in section illustrating the manner in which my device is fully assembled.

In washing the well for the installation of my invention, I employ an outer casing I which extends from the surface to the lower end of the wall. There may be a liner or extension of the casing at the lower end of the well to which is connected, by a coupling 2, a strainer or perforated pipe 3. The lower end of the strainer has the set shoe 4 therein which I have equipped with an adjustable valve 5.

With reference to the valve 5, it is to be noted that the same includes a body 6 which is formed with a recess I on the lower end to all-ow the 15 passage of liquid thereto. Above the chamber the head of the valve member is provided with a packing ring 8 set within a recess in the upper end of the plug and having two spaced lips 9 on the lower side thereof. Said ring fits within a recess in the plug and is held therein by pins Hi. The upper end of the plug is reduced in width and squared at II to receive a wrench by which it can be rotated. The lower end of the plug is threaded at I2 to screw within the recess in the shoe and lateral openings I3 in the plug connect with the upper end of the recess I. It will be seen that when the plug is screwed upwardly to space the openings I3 above the shoulder on the shoe, fluid may pass through said openings I3 and downwardly out of the strainer. In this manner the outside of the strainer may be washed. When the washing of the well has been completed, the plug may be engaged by the wash pipe and screwed into the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby sealing the lower end of the strainer.

At the upper end of the casing is a special casing-head I4, having connections at a plurality of points to allow the inlet of air or gas thereto. The connection I5 is shown as connected with the tank I6 receiving gas or air under pressure from the compressor II;

There is another pipe I8 connected with the casing-head and is intended for connection with a gas well from which gas is flowing under pressure, or to some other similar source of gas supply.

The upper end of the casing-head is enlarged and provided with a tapered seat at I9 to receive the bushing 29. Said bushing extends upwardly from the well and is tubular in form to connect with the upper end of the eduction tube 2|. Its

. upper end is closed by a cap 22 upon which may be mounted a pressure gauge 23. Below the closure cap is a lateral outlet 24 for the fluid from the well. This outlet leads through a check valve 25 and pipe 26 to the separator 21.

This separator is of ordinary construction, having an upper outlet 28 for gas and a lower outlet 29 for liquid. It is to be understood that the pipe 28 may be connected with the inlet to the com pressor if desired.

The bushing 20 forms a seal with the interior of the casing-head by means of a rubber sleeve or gasket 30 fitted about the bushing 20 and supported upon a shoulder 3| on the bushing. Below the said shoulder the bushing tapers downwardly to fit the seat l9 and below said seat is a sealing ring 32 which is provided with grooves or recesses on its lower side to receive the pressure fluid escaping past the lower end of the bushing. The sleeve 3!] is also similarly provided with a groove or recess 33. There is a ring of metal 34 on the upper end of the gasket, said ring being adapted to be compressed against the gasket by a gland 35 screwed within the upper end of .the casing-head. It will be obvious that a tubing equipped with this particular type of bushing may be installed quickly in the upper end of the easing-head to prevent escape of gas from thewell when a blowout is threatened, and that the bushing may be locked rigidly in position by the gland member 35.

The upper end of the bushing may be equipped with a lateral outlet valve 35 if desired.

As will be seen from Fig. 11, the eduction tube is extended downward into the lower end of the casing and is equipped along its length with control valves A at difierent levels in the well. Towardthe lower end of the well is a packer E which prevents the passage of gas or liquid from the well to the upper end thereof. Toward the lower end of the well below the packer is a special inlet valve C.

With particular reference tothe construction of the control valves A, reference is made to Fig. 6. The eduction tube 2| is connected to a valve housing 31 which is provided with a neck 38 which is coupled with the next upper section of tubing.

- The lower end of the housing is connected with a bushing or plug 39 which is threaded internally to connect at 40 with the next lower section of the eduction tube. The housing is provided with an interior chamber 4| at the upper end of which is a ring shaped valve member 42 held resiliently upward to close the air inlets 43 by means of a spring 44. It will be obvious that this valve prevents the passage of fluid from the interior of the tubing to the outside thereof, but it is adapted to be unseated by the pressure of fluid in the casing. The outlets 43 are closed at their upper ends by an outer ring shaped valve 45 which fits about the neck 38 of the housing andis held downwardly in closed position by means of a. float sleeve 46 below the housing.

- Said float 46 is a tubular member and is constructed of material adapted to float in liquid. It is of tubular shape and is adapted to fit'free- 1y about the eduction tube. Said float is connected with the valve member 45 by means of a plurality of rods 41 which project upwardly through grooves 48 in the valve housing, and are adjustably connected by means of a thread thereon with said valve.

The lower end of each of these rods'has a head 49 thereon which engages below a threaded sleeve 50 screwed into the upper end of the float about the rod 41. It will be noted that the float is positioned below the valve so that the valve will not be closed until the level of the liquid has passed the inlets 43. It is also apparent that the distance between the float and the valve 45 may be adjusted to some extent by the connection between the rods and the valves so that the position of the float may be arranged to close the 5 valve at the desired instant.

The construction of the gas inlet valves may be varied in different ways, and in Figs. 2 and 3 a slightly modified form is shown. In this embodiment the valve housing 31 is arranged with a 10 separate valve member 5| for each of the inlets 43. These valve members are shown as cylindrical in shape and are adapted to move within separate chambers 52 in the housing. The upper end of each valve is provided with a rubber pack- 15 ing member 53 which bears against the inner end of the inlet passage. Separate springs 54 hold the valves resiliently against the seat. It will be observed that these valves will operate in the same manner as does the valve in the previously 20 described embodiment. The float 46 and the upper valve member 45 are substantially identical with those in the previous embodiment.

It is also to be noted that I may employ at intervals along the interior of the eduction tube, a 25 check valve 55. This valve is arranged in a tubular housing 56 which forms a coupling between sections of the eduction tube. The valve is adapted to seat within a lower tubular seat 51 and to be normally held therein by a spring 58. 30 It will be noted that these valves prevent the .liquid from flowing back in the tube when the without the loss of time and power. 35

The packer B is placed adjacent the lower end of the tube and upwardly above the screen. This packer as shown in Fig. 4 is a rubber sleeve having annular recesses 59 on the outer and inner faces. It is so arranged as to produce a packing 40 lip 60 toward the upper portion of the recess. This sleeve surrounds a barrel 6| forming a portion of the eduction tube. This barrel is slidable within the packer sleeve and telescopes within a lower bushing 62 which serves to support the 45 lower end of the packer sleeve. There is a lower projecting shoulder 63 on the barrel which, by engaging against a similar shoulder 64 on the interior of the bushing 62, limits the relative upward movement of the barrel in the sleeve. 50

The upward end of the barrel is screwed within the lower end of a. valve chamber 65 and has a valve seat 66 on its upper end to receive the check valve 55. The lower end of the coupling forming the valve housing is connected at 61 with the 55 upper end of the packer sleeve. It will be noted that the packermay be expanded by pressure from above exerted downwardly on the eduction tube, so as to force the inner barrel downwardly be understood that when the level of liquid in the 70 tube passes below the inlets 43 on this valve, the air will blow continuously through this opening to raise the liquid within the tubing. Also, within the valve housing I have placed an inner nozzle or barrel 10 which extends upwardly past the inlet openings within the extension H on the valve housing 69. This tubing has a series of spiral ridges or vanes 12 which give to the fluid passing the same a rotary motion which tends to carry with it the liquid in the tubing and any foreign sediment contained therewith,

Below the packer is a housing 13 within which is an upwardly opening check valve I4 working within a valve gauge 15 through openings in which the fluid passes upwardly into the tubing from the valve. Below the valve apassage 16 extends downwardly to connect with lateral inlet passages 11 which extend through-the body of the coupling member 18 to the outside of the tubing. These openings allow the inlet of gas from the well to the passage 16 leading upward into the tubing. The fluid rising in the tubing below the coupling member 18 may pass through inclined passages 80 to the interior of the tubing outside the valve cage 15.

Below this housing the eduction tube is extended downwardly for connection with the perforated plug or nipple 8!. This nipple supports a standing valve 82 within which is the usual ball valve 83. Below the standing valve the plug is connected with a perforated bull plug 84 which receives the liquid from the well passing upwardly into the tubing. There is a short tube 85 constituting a gas anchor which extends from the foot valve downwardly into the perforated bull plug.

The operation of my device will be apparent from the description which has been given. When the device is assembled in the well, the packer is set so as to close off the upper portion of the casing from the lower portion thereof by resting the lower end of the tubing upon the upper end i l of the lower valve member 8. The weight of the tubing above is then lowered so as to exert sufficient pressure on the packer to expand the same into position. When this is done, the upper bushing Ell at the top of the well is regulated so as toseat firmly within the seat H9 in the casing head and seal oil the upper end of the well. The connections are then made as previously described, and the well is ready for operation.

Gas or air is then introduced into the well casing about the tubing and tends-to lower the level of the liquid above the packer until the upper one of the control valves A is passed by the liquid surface allowing the gas to enter through the inlets 43 which are open due to the fact that the float below the same is submerged, thus holding the valve in open position as shown in Fig. 3. When the pressure fluid entering the inlet has aerated the column of liquid inthe tubing above it, the column will be elongated so that the liquid will overflow at the upper end through the pipe 24 to the separator 21. When this level has been depressed beyond the openings 43 the floats will be passed by the liquid level so as to allow said floats to drop and close the valve 45. The liquid level will then be further depressed until the next lower inlet valve has been reached and the operation will then again be repeated until the lower valve member 69 above the packer has been reached, and then the gas will blow continuously through this inlet.

It will thus be possible to handle heads of liquid in the eduction tube which ordinarily could not be moved without excessive pressure in the casing. A small pressure of gas from the compressor I6 is enabled to raise short heads of liquid one at a time until the lower inlet has been reached and from that time on the small pressure of gas will be suflicient to continue the operation of the well until the prorated production has been obtained, after which the well may be closed down until the following day.

It will also be noted that if there is a sufflcient amount of gas in the well to raise the column of liquid, this gas pressure may be employed after the head of liquid has been reduced in the manner described. Thus, gas arising below the packer and entering the eduction tube 10 through the inlets 11 may pass upwardly with the liquid and materially assist in lifting the liquid. In some cases where the gas accumulating in the casing is sufficiently strong, it will not be necessary to employ any artificial pressure whatever 15 and the valves in the inlets I 5 and 18 may be closed.

My particular type of kick off valve employed in operating the air lift device herein disclosed has the advantage of operatingpositively and 20 accurately. The closing and opening of the valve does not depend upon differences of pressure inside and outside the tubing. There is no period when the valve may be partly balanced and hence partly open and partly closed. As soon as the level of liquid has passed a certain point on the float the valve will drop to a certain position and remain there until the level of liquid again rises in the tubing. It will be obvious that the packer is not an essential and necessary ele- 3t, ment. It may be eliminated and the operation of the well will not be materially affected. The packer has the advantage, however, of allowing gas from the well to accumulate within a comparatively small space and exert its full pressure upon the rising column of liquid.

The manner in which the eduction tube is sealed at the upper end of the casing in the space between the said tubing and the casing head, and also the manner in which the lower end of the casing is sealed by means of the plug 6, are also advantageous features which tend to increase the efficiency of the apparatus.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described including a well casing, an eduction tube spaced inside said casing, means closing the upper end of said casing about said tube, an outlet from said tube above said closing means, inlet passages arranged at spaced points along said tube, check valves normally closing said passages, but adapted to be opened by fluid pressure outside said tube, control valves outside said inlet passages, and floats below said passages controlling the position of said control valves, said floats acting when not submerged to hold said control valves positively closed.

2. A device of the character described including a well casing, an eduction tube spaced inside said casing, means closing the upper end of said casing about said tube, an outlet from said tube above said closing means, inlet passages arranged at spaced points along said tube, check valves normally closing said passages, but adapted to be opened by fluid pressure outside said tube, control valves outside said inlet passages, and floats below said passages controlling the position of said control valves, said floats acting when not submerged to hold said control valves positively closed, and a packer on said tube adapted to separate the lower end of said tube from said control valves. r

3. A device of the character described includ ing a well casing, an eduction tube spaced inside said casing, means closing the upper end of said casing about said tube, an outlet from said tube above said closing means, inlet passages arranged at spaced points along said tube, check valves normally closing said passages, but adapted to be opened by fluid pressure outside said tube, control valves outside said inlet passages, and floats below said passages controlling the position of said control valves, said floats acting when not submerged to hold said control valves positively closed, a packer above the lower end of said tube and a liquid intake to said tube below said packer.

4. A valve for use on air lift devices including a housing having a fluid opening in the wall thereof, a ring valve surrounding said housing and normally closing said opening, a tubing, a float sleeve on said tubing below said housing, means connecting said float and said valve ring and adjustable to vary the distance between said valve and said float.

5. A valve for use on air lift devices including a tubing, a housing having a fluid opening in the wall thereof, means to prevent the flow of fluid from Within said housing through said opening, a ring valve surrounding said housing and nor mally closing said opening, a float sleeve on said tubing below said housing, means connecting said float and said valve ring and adjustable to vary the distance between said valve and said float.

6. In an air control valve assembly, a liquid eduction tube comprising a tubular housing adapted to be coupled in said tube, an upper shoulder on said housing, fluid passages extending through said shoulder to the interior thereof, a ring valve on said shoulder, a tubular float sleeve on said tube below said housing, and rods on said float sleeve adjustably connected with said valve. 5

7. An air control valve assembly including a liquid eduction tube, a tubular housing adapted to be coupled in said tube, an upper shoulder on said housing, fluid passages extending through said shoulder to the interior thereof, a ring valve on said shoulder, check valves on the inside of said housing closing said inlets against the passage of fluid outwardly, a tubular float sleeve on said tube below said housing, and rods on said float sleeve adjustably connected with said valve,

8. A well casing, an eduction tube therein, means to seal about said tube in the upper end of said casing, a packer on said tube separating the upper end of said casing from the lower end thereof, control valves in said tube above said packer to close the inlet of fluid to said tube responsive to the fluid level in said casing, and means below said packer on said tube to control the inlet of gas to said tube.

9. A Well casing, an eduction tube therein, 35 means to seal about said tube in the upper end of said casing, a packer on said tube separating the upper end of said casing from the lower end thereof, control valves in said tube above said packer to close the inlet of fluid to said tube responsive to the fluid level in said casing, standing valve at the lower end of said tube, and a gas control inlet between said packer and said standing valve.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. 

